Attract South Korean Golf Tourists

MIRI: South Koreans are “addicted” to golf and spend a fortune flying overseas for the game during winter.

Korean tourism co-ordinator Au Yong-Suk said Malaysia could take advantage of this and market the country’s golf courses more aggressively in South Korean cities.

Au, who hails from Seoul, and is now working for the Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Resort here, said golf-enthusiasts in her home country were mostly affluent professionals and did not mind spending a huge sum to enjoy their favourite sport overseas when their golf courses were closed between December and March.

Au welcomed a group of Koreans who had specially chartered a flight from Seoul to northern Borneo just to play golf last week.

The group arrived here after spending a few days playing golf in Kota Kinabalu and in the sevenstar Empire Golf and country Resort in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Au said golf was big business in South Korea.

“Previously, only Korean men were keen on golf. Now, even young people and women are taking up golf everywhere in Korea,” she said.

“Every year during the winter months, golf clubs throughout Korea would charter special flights just to fly members out to famous golf courses all over the world so that they can continue enjoying the game.

“Northern Borneo is becoming very popular with Korean golfers because there are direct flights from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu and Brunei. Koreans have also discovered good golf courses in Miri,” she added.

It is learnt that internationalstandard golf and country resorts in Malaysia charge up to RM1,800 per day for food, accommodation and golf.

Source : STAR

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